crayfish

noun cray·fish \ ˈkrā-ˌfish \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

Definition of crayfish

1 : any of numerous freshwater decapod crustaceans (especially families Astacidea, Cambaridae, and Parastacidae) resembling the lobster but usually much smaller

2 : spiny lobster

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Recent Examples of crayfish from the Web

Bruno and his pals are especially keen on Bergerac sec with trout, smoked salmon, chilled summer soups and crayfish atop a broth of celery, fennel, onions and carrots.

— mike dunne, sacbee, "A French wine mystery: Where's the Bergerac?," 6 June 2018
In Fiordland, harvest crayfish (lobster) to feast on later tonight.

— tom ricketts, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to New Zealand," 5 Oct. 2016
The creatures are top predators, chowing down on worms, insects, crayfish and even smaller salamanders.

— maya wei-haas, Smithsonian, "The Adorable Chinese Giant Salamander Is Slithering Toward Extinction," 21 May 2018
Also on the list from the Western Governors Association were plants such as salt cedar and Eurasian watermilfoil plus critters such as carp, nonnative crayfish and feral hogs.

— phil drake, USA TODAY, "Feral cats listed among top invasive species in the West," 22 Mar. 2018
But these genes seem to be shared by other crayfish.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "Mutant crayfish got rid of males, and its clones are taking over the world," 6 Feb. 2018
In recent years, scientists conducted a series of studies and found their primary sources of food are crayfish.

— jenny staletovich, miamiherald, "Record rain led to bonanza year for Florida’s wading birds. Just not in the right places | Miami Herald," 29 Mar. 2018
And the genome is what has allowed researchers to confirm that crayfish from around the world are essentially clones.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "Mutant crayfish got rid of males, and its clones are taking over the world," 6 Feb. 2018
Ostensibly, the publication that describes these results is about the completion of the genome for the marbled crayfish.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "Mutant crayfish got rid of males, and its clones are taking over the world," 6 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crayfish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of crayfish

Origin and Etymology of crayfish

by folk etymology from Middle English crevis, from Anglo-French creveis, escreveice, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German krebiz crab — more at crab

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year